Hyderabad: Drones made by the Chinese company DJI are increasingly being smuggled into India through international airports, with Hyderabad emerging as one of the key interception points. Customs officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) intercepted DJI drones from around 10 passengers in 2026 alone, indicating a shift from isolated passenger violations to suspected organised commercial smuggling.Officials say this is a worrying trend with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence describing illegal drone imports as more than a customs or revenue violation. Its report ‘Smuggling in India Report 2024-25’ states that unregulated drones can be used for surveillance and for transporting narcotics, weapons and other contraband. Such imports also bypass traceability, safety requirements and regulatory controls.In one of the biggest drone seizures at RGIA, customs officials confiscated 70 drones from three passengers who arrived on two separate flights from Singapore on March 13 and 14.Officials suspect that the drones had either not been declared or were imported without the required clearances. The passengers were questioned and the drones were seized pending an investigation. The large number also led officials to examine if the consignment was intended for commercial distribution through an organised network rather than for personal use.The March operation followed a series of similar interceptions in 2025. On Nov 30, the air intelligence unit of Hyderabad customs intercepted a passenger arriving from Singapore. A detailed examination of the baggage resulted in 18 drones valued at around Rs 10 lakh being recovered. The drones were seized under the Customs Act, and officials began investigating whether the passenger was acting for a larger smuggling network.In another case on Nov 11 and 12, customs, assisted by the Central Industrial Security Force, intercepted two passengers arriving from Abu Dhabi. The officers noticed suspicious behaviour of the passengers and subjected their baggage to X-ray screening in the process recovering eight DJI drones, 65 iPhones, 50 Apple Watches, four gaming consoles and other electronic gadgets.Import curbs fuel parallel marketDirectorate of Revenue Intelligence and customs cases indicate that most drones smuggled into India in recent years are Chinese-made DJI models. Smugglers have used passenger baggage, mis-declared cargo and concealment methods to bring fully built drones into the country for resale.Rules state that only govt agencies and authorised entities can import drones after obtaining approvals. Unauthorised import of fully built drones is prohibited. The restrictions have contributed to the growth of a parallel market.Passenger baggage remains one of the preferred routes. Investigators have found drones entering through several international airports and seaports. In some cases, the drones are dismantled and their components packed separately. In others, they are declared as ordinary electronic goods to avoid scrutiny.An earlier case investigated by the agency in 2019 had also pointed to the growth of organised drone smuggling. Investigators arrested an alleged kingpin from Ahmedabad who was accused of smuggling thousands of drones worth several crores into India. The case was among the early indications that drone smuggling had developed into a commercial operation.
